Vacations and being....Broke!

So Justin and I recently took a mini vacation to Monterey! My wonderful parent's sent us there as a Christmas present, and it was wonderful, besides me being sicky! This was just one of the fabulous views we encountered on our trip. This was our view eating lunch one afternoon. AMAZING!!!!!!!!!!

One thing Justin and I told ourselves this year, is we would be taking vactions.....even if they were mini. We have missed out on 2 and a half years of not doing this and we feel it is a vital part of our marriage, spending quality, fun time together. We have been so serious for 2 years and had no stress relief, that no matter what it IS happening. So far so good. We are headed to Vegas this coming weekend...like in 2 days! With our very best of married freinds Craig and Jenn! woot woot! So excited!!!!! The only problem is.....we are broke! lol...




Let me explain.......since we haven't been on a vacation in so long, we have never had to budget for one. We wen't a little crazy...ok....alot crazy in Monterey. We knew we had 2 vacations this month....but we were lets face it, DUMB! So now we are broke but going to have a fabulous time!




These are elephant seals we saw on the way up! There were thousands of them!


Justin and I are learning about how to be financially responsible...all the time.....sometimes we are good at it and sometimes we FAIL...miserably. It is life! it's a learning process all the time. We can't be right on all the time.... We LEARN from our mistakes and pray that God helps us choose better next time. What we really should be doing is asking God to bless us, and be fruitful with what HE gives us! We know we can do this. It just sucks sometimes. We do have awesome parents and family and amazing friends who help us and encourage us along the way. In the end......life is not so bad.....it's wonderful!

Contentment

So i'm finally feeling contentment and consistent motivation after a long time of not....if not ever. I have looked back on my life a realized points in my life where I have seen myself grow and mature. I think I have been waiting for that next moment for a long time. I feel like I haven't progressed until now. When I mean progress, I mean emotionally. I haven't really felt like an adult, because I have had so many times in my life where I don't really complete things I want to do or say I want to do. I don't have very good follow through. I've been better at not making promises I cannot keep. I have also found a very effective way in making sure I stick to things. I make small, very small goals for myself. This week I have actually progressed with school a bit. I had a counselor appointment on tuesday and felt so good about it. She told me I have way more units and that's great for a returning student. I have 106 units, and 42 transferable units. As of right now, I am trying to get into a life planning class that is completely full. We shall see where that goes. If I have to wait until Fall, I will, but I will get in eventually. I'm not sure where I want to go after my AA is done, but God has a plan, and His plan is perfect.

Another way I am coping with not being overwhelmed and sticking to my guns is, i'm not looking so far into the future like I used to. I used to stress myself out by looking so far into the future and not be able to cope with not being able to control it. It was very difficult. Hey God is in control, NOT me. So let's see what He has in store for Justin and I. I can feel myself grow as i get better control on my life, and accept what is, will be. I have the power to change my weight, my spiritual life, what I eat, how I treat others, and my attitude. I DON"T have the power to change the future. I am OK with that! I feel like I have come to terms and realized so much in the past few months. It feels awesome!

As for some more awesome news...Justin just got a call yesterday and he recieved a promotion at work! It's is only a dollar more an hour, but it is something he really wanted to do, and he is in heaven! City of Hope is getting a blood mobile hopefully by March. Justin will be in charge of it and driving it. He will mostly be on blood drives, and he will be in charge of more logistical things. He is so excited for this oppourtunity and can't wait to start! You should have seen him when he got the call last night....he jumpeed up and down like a little kid! (luckily we don't have neighbors below us yet!)We are so excited! We went to dinner with my parents to celebrate!

So I guess that's all for now..... Just a little thought......

peace and love....

School? Maybe.......

So after much talking and ranting last night before bed (poor justin sounded like he was in a buble and actually couldn't talk very loud, cause he is sicky), I think Justin and I have decided one of us has to go back to school and its going to be ME! I am so close to getting my AA, I'm not sure how many classes away I am, but I'm almost there. I have put it off long enough. I am going to apply and see if I can't get into any classes this spring, if not, I will be there for the Fall 2011 semester. I really enjoy taking classes online and I actually do really well. I'm a little old for being in class and doing all that. So my next goal and mission in life, if I choose to accept, IS going back to school.

I have been saying this for a while now, and I know most of you who really know me, are thinking.....uh huh.,.... okay amber...good luck with that one! Well I am here to proove you wrong and myself. I have to do this. Who knows what will come of it. Fact is...I'm bored. What do you do when you are bored...You do something about it! Yes!Depending on what we can afford(since the state is raping community college students in fees), I will take one class at a time or 2. It just depends.

So my challenge for the next while......Work 2 jobs, get more involved with Church, find a balance in life through weight watchers and exercise, and go back to school. I can do it...I'm wonder woman! Maybe we shall see just how strong I really am.

Time for a new Amber Leigh Gerhart. Time for some strength in her soul. I shall find that. And i DO choose to accept.

the end.

A new chapter

I have recently been inspired by some really awesome people in my life to completely change the way I live my life. My best friend Kathy has really inspired me to really start living a healthy lifestyle. I see her drive and it makes me want to be a better person. She does such amazing things through her work and her personal life, she is a real blessing to me and the way I think. So I have joined Weight Watchers Online. Today is my first day and probably not the best day to join, but I really think this will help considering I am paying 18 dollars a month for the program. So we shall see where this journey takes me. My real inspiration to loose weight, is to have children. I refuse to let a baby grow in an unhealthy body. If I am to be its provider, it doesn't have a choice of the surroundings it grows in, I DO. I will be the best and provide the best for Our children. I have also made the choice to go back to the gym. So far this week I have gone once and the first day back was great! It's just a matter of making right choices and making time to go. With two jobs, life is super crazy.

Secondly, I have been inspired by a conversation my two sister in laws from Facebook. My awesome sister in law Sam is having trouble with my nephew William( who is amazingly adorable) waking up at 4a.m.! Sam is a working mama and obviously this just isn't condusive to a working mom's life! ( I would be a mess). My other amazing sister in law Jenn, made a suggestion that I really took to heart. She stated that when she went through it with her kiddos, she simply used that time for prayer and reflecting. So guess what I did this morning? I got up early and prayed for my family while I took an amazing shower watching the sun rise out of our bathroom window. It was an ahh hahhh moment for me. I love talking to God, it's one of my favorite times of the day. Watching His beautiful creation while doing this and taking a hot shower just seems absolutely wonderful. And it was! I have also started reading my Bible, not every day, but following a guidline we recieved from a guy Robbie who talked to us on Sunday at Church. You read one Proverbs and a couple Psalms everyday according to a month calendar. I have a whole new attitude towards reading the Bible.

I feel like there is finally balance to my life (or getting there), and I"m really loving it. I know there is a reason why we are where we are in our walk. I am happy to take it on and happy to walk with Justin by my side.

THe Move and 2011 so far!

Welp folks.....the move was a definite success! To many people who contributed their muscles, sweat, and willingness....thank you. You have no idea how much you made my life livable that day! We got moved in so fast it was ridiculous! Thanks to those who made the day fun(I won't name names Mr. Dean who apparently likes to dress in women's(my) clothing!). Good Good times!

Besides all the madness, we LOVE LOVE LOVE our apartment and feel like it's where we were meant to be our entire married life. I think I determine what feels like home based on a place where I can picture us bringing home our baby from the hospital when that time comes. That is what home would feel like and I Definitely feel like that here in Covina.

We had alot going on in the first few weeks of this glorious new year so far. The first day after our move we celebrated my nieces 3rd Birthday on that Sunday up in the Nard. Alison Joy....I remember the day she was born and it doesn't seem like that long ago, but she is growing into a beautiful, smart, just all around amazing child. I hope and pray that our kids are just as well behaved as that little girl. Although she has hands down amazing parents, so no wonder she is totally awesome!

This past Saturday I was able to go to Justin's nephew's Jacobs, First Birthday. It was awesome to see family and friends there. He is such a little booger, and absolutely adorable. He is changing so fast and He is such a little blessing.

Between work and cars breaking down(yes my car is sick, but getting better) and trying to adjust to living in a new place, I would have to say 2011 has been quite eventful. The latest and greatest and probably the best is I think we have found a new church. We have felt that we need to be more active in the church we are attending and where we can grow and start having our kids be apart of, and I think we have found that at Faith Community Church in Covina. We attended this past Sunday, and we were floored. We felt the Holy Spirit Immediately and we just knew coming out of there that is would be our home church. We are really exited to get more involved, but really sad that we are going to have to leave Yorba Linda Friends Church and our community group. We are striving to read our Bible more and to Pray together as a couple. We have been so caught up in our crazy life, that part of our spiritual life was put on the back burner. Which is just not okay. We love the Lord and we want to show Him that we love him and show the world that we love Him.

We are hoping that you all are having a wonderful start to the New Year. Whether you have resolutions or not, let's just all try to be closer to our wonderful Lord and Maker, and just try to be more loving to those around us! We love you all!

~Peace~

The Move!

So we are officially moving this sat. to covina, ca. I've been in a little bit of shambles, dealing with two jobs, having to pack everything, and dealing with my starbucks boss trying to get off so i can pack in the midst of everything. I have never done well with moving. I think I have finally found out why. My theory.....I am a control freak! when I am not in control of things or my stuff, it makes me have a lot of anxiety and stress. It starts in my shoulders and makes its way to my heart and then i get severe acid reflux. ( and i'm only 26...what the heck!)

Let me give you some background on our previous moving experiences....lol. When we moved into our first apartment ever as a married couple( I was moving from home and Justin was moving from his brother's house in Irvine.), I had a massive melt down in the bathroom. I'm pretty sure Justin's entire family heard the curse words, and sobs coming from the tiny little bathroom my mom shoved me in. (yes she put me in and closed the door) to that i was actually very greatful! I had found out the my brand new dining room table set had gotten a huge gouge down the middle of it. ( to this day i have to have either a runner or massive amounts of decorations on my table to cover it.) that was the first run...

Moving into a room for rent down in Irvine was not as bad, luckily I had a meltdown after eeryone left. It wasn't really a meltdown, it was more justin and I getting into a fight about who knows what, and Justin went on a "drive". Needless to say I was probably not the nicest person to deal with at that moment, I applogized.

So this time around, I'm hoping that it will be smooth and everything will be fine. i'm nervous because I feel very cautious and protective of the walls and things getting damaged because we are renting from close family friends. It's a beautiful place. I will post pics up when we move in.

So This time next week our moving adventures will be over(thanks goodness) and we will hopefully be settling in. Now i have to pray every night that I will be cool calm and collected through this process and trust the people who are graceously helping us to take care of our stuff. i think it will be a good move.

Untill next time....

A Whole New World...

I know it has been FOREVER! But alas, I'm here and updating. We are Moving! as of January we will be moving closer to our jobs. We are hoping to move to Covina, CA and have found a cute little apartment. We will be able to save tons on gas and just be much happier and focus on really getting out of debt.
Justin is LOVING his job! The hours are very long and he is exhaursted, but he can't complain, the work is so gratifying and he loves everyone he works with! I am also Loving my job. I love working at the office i do. I am so blessed to work with an amazing, small group of people. We all get along so well and work so graciously together~

We are well on our way of getting out of debt in the last couple months we have demolished two credits cards out of our program and in 2 more we will have another gone! We only have the high balance ones left. It has been a very long, hard road but we are doing it and finally have a light at the end of the tunnel. We are truely feeling blessed these days. Although we are working alot, it is paying off and we are just one step closer to becoming debt free and LIVING debt free!